Signal device for motor vehicles



w w. HUELSTER. SIGNAL DEVICE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES;

' AFFLICATION FILED AUG. 16, I920.

1,403,498. PatentedJan.,17,'1922.

WILLIAM VI. HUELSTER, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

SIGNAL DEVICE FORIEOTOR VEHICLES.

incense.

Application filed August 16,1920.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, lVILLmM W. hum.- srnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grand Rapids, county of Kent, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signal Devices for Motor Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in signal devices for motor vehicles.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide an improved signal device for motor vehicles adapted to display a plurality of indicia such as stop and turn or direction indicia by a continuous actuation of the device.

Second, to provide an improved signal device for vehicles adapted to be actuated to display stop indicia on the actuation of the brake lever and to be further actuated by means of a hand operated member to display direction or turn indicia or which may be controlled entirely by hand.

Further objects and objects relating to structural details will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in the following specification. he invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodi ment of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification in which:

Fig. I is a detail view of a structure embodying the features of my invention, partially in section, only such portions of a motor vehicle being shown as are deemed necessary to illustrate an adaptation of my improvements and such portions being shown mainly in conventional form.

Fig. 11 is an inverted view of parts of the operating connections.

Fig. III is a detail section on a line corresponding to line 3-3 of Figs. I and II, showing details of the operating connections and the mountings therefor.

Fig. IV is an enlarged detail inverted view showing the gong or hell operating means.

Fig. V is an enlarged detail view partially in section of the hand operating mechanism.

Fig. V1 is a front elevation of the indicator or signal member proper in its normal position.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 17, 1922.

Serial No. 403,829.

l ig. 11 is a front elevation with the word "Stop in display position.

actors refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines.

Referring to the drawing, 1 represents the body of a motor vehicle, 2 the seat, 3 the steering post, and i the brake lever. These pa ts are shown in conventional form and without regard to proper proportions as such features form no part of my present invention.

My improved signal device as illustrated comprises a casing 5 having a rotatable indicia member therein provided with the word Stop as shown in Fig. VII, and direction or turn indicia such as the arrow shown in VIII, the details of the indicator portion of my invention not being illustrated as they form no part of my invention.

The indicator or signal member is actuated by the cable 6 which is connected to the actuating lever 7 pivoted at 8 on the supporting bracket 9. This supporting bracket is mounted on the base plate 10, preferably a piece of board, the base plate being adapted to be mounted on the under side of the body as shown in Fig. I. A convenient place for mounting is usually found under the seat of the vehicle The lever 7 has a plurality of holes 11 which the cable 6 may be connected thereby providing means for effectively regulating the throw of the signal member. The operating cables 12 and 13 are also connected to this actuating lever, the series of holes providing means for connection according to the throw of the parts to which the cables 12 and 13 are connected.

The cable 13 is connected to the brake lever 4 so that whenever the brake lever is actuated, the indicator is actuated to display the word Stop. The cable 12 is connected to the bell crank lever 1% which is preferably provided with a series of holes 15 to further regulate the throw of the parts.

The lever 14 is mounted on a hanger 16 on the under side of the foot board 17. The lever 14 is connected to the drum 18 by means of the wire 19 arranged through the tube 20. The wheel 18 is provided with a hand lever 21, the wheel being enclosed in a casin 22 mounted on the steering post 3.

()n the base plate 10 I mount a gong 23 provided with the striker 2dpivoted at 25 and having a roller 26 with which the tappet 27 engages to actuate the striker when the actuating lever 7 is actuated. The pur pose of the gong is twofold: first, it serves to attract the attention of the person it is desired to warn or signal; and it also serves to notify the oierator when the stop signal is displayed, t e parts being arranged so that the gong sounds when the indicator is in stop position. This is particularly advantageous when the device is actuated entirely by hand, that is, when the hand lever 21 is used to display the stop signal, as the operator swings the lever until the gong sounds so that he knows that the stop indicia is displayed and continued movement of the lever will displa the turn or direction 'indicia.

Vith thls arrangement of parts, I provide a signal mechanism which displays the word Stop whenever the brake is applied, and as stated, may be further operated by hand to display the turn indicia or may be entirely operated by hand as occasion requires.

My improved signal apparatus may be conveniently attached to different makes of vehicles with substantially no change or modification thereof. The adjustment of the operating cable and connections to suit the requirements of the particular vehlcle to which the device is applied may be made by an unexperienced person. By mounting the gong and operating lever upon the base plate, the gong is properly positioned relative to its actuating mechanism.

The structure is also adapted to support and illuminate the license plate 28, the easing for the indicia member being adapted to receive a lamp and having an opening in its bottom through which the license plate is illuminated.

I have not attempted to illustrate or de scribe various modifications or adaptations which I contemplate as I believe the disclosure made will enable those skilled in the art to which my invention relates to emor adapt the same as may be desired.

bod

Iiiaving thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: Y

1. In a vehicle si nal device, the combination with a brake ever, of a signal device having stop and direction indicia adapted to be successively displayed by the continued actuation of the device in one direction, a base plate adapted to be mounted on the under side of a vehicle body, an actuating lever, a supporting bracket for said actuating lever mounted on the under side of said base plate, a cable connecting said actuating lever to said signal device, a cable connecting said actuating lever to said brake lever, a hand operated member, a bell crank lever adapted to be mounted on the under side of the vehicle body, a cable connecting the one arm of said bell crank lever to said actuating lever, operating connections for said bell crank lever to said hand operated member,a gon mounted on said base plate, a striker theretor pivotally mounted 011 said base plate, and a tappet on said actuating lever coacting with said striker, all coacting for the purpose specified.

2. In a vehicle signal device, the combina tion with a brake lever, of a signal device having stop and direction indicia adapted to be successively displayed by the continued actuation of the device in one direction, a base plate adapted to be mounted on the under side of a vehicle body, an actuating lever, a supporting bracket for said actuating lever mounted on the under side of said base plate, a cable connecting said actuating lever to said signal device, a cable connecting said actuating lever to said brake lever, a hand operated member, a bell crank lever adapted to be mounted on the under side of the vehicle body, a cable connecting the one arm of said bell crank lever to said actuating lever, and operating connections for said bell crank lever to said hand operated member, all coacting for the purpose specified.

3. In a vehicle signal. device, the combination with a brake lever, of a signal device having stop and direction indicia adapted to be successively displayed by the continued actuation of the device in one direction, a base plate adapted to be mounted on the under side of a vehicle body,'an actuating lever, a supporting bracket for said actuating lever mounted on the under side of said base plate, a cable connecting said actuating lever to said signal device a cable connecting said actuating lever to said brake lever, a hand operated member, a bell crank lever adapted to be mounted on the under side of the vehicle body, a cable connecting the one arm of said bell crank lever to said actuating lever, said lever being provided with a longitudinallydisposed series of holes adapted to receive said cables so that they may be attached thereto to regulate the throw, operating connections for said bell crank lever to said hand operated member.

4i. In a vehicle signal device, the combination with a brake lever, of a signal device having a plurality of indicia adapted to be successively displayed by the actuae tion of the device in one direction, an actuating lever, a cable connecting said actuating lever to said signal device, a cable con necting said actuating lever to said brake lever, a hand operated member, and a cable connecting said hand operated member to said actuating lever whereby upon each actuation of said brake said signal device is actuated to display its stop indicia and said hand operated member may be operated to display all the direction indicia when the brake lever is in its normal position and to display the direction indicia when the brake lever is in its actuated position.

5. The combination with a motor vehicle provided with a brake lever, of a signal device having stop and direction indicia adapted to be successively displayed by the continued actuation of the device in one direction, an actuating lever, a cable connecting said actuating lever to said signal device, a cable connecting said actuating lever to said brake lever, a hand operated member, and a cable connecting said hand operated memher to said actuating lever whereby upon. each actuation of said brake lever said signal device is actuated to display its stop indicia and said hand operated member may be operated to display all the direction indicia when the brake lever is in its normal position, and to display the direction indicia when the brake lever is in its actuated position.

6. In a vehicle signal device, the combination with a brake lever, of a signal device, an actuating lever, operating connections for said actuating lever to said signal device and said brake lever, a hand operated member, operating connections for said hand operated member to said actuating lever, a

gong, and gong operating means including said actuating lever adapted to sound the gong when the signal device displays certain indicia.

7. In a vehicle signal device, the combination with a brake lever, of a signal device having stop and direct-ion indicia adapted to be successively displayed by the continued actuation of the device in one direction, a hand operated member, operating connections for said brake lever to said signal device comprising a lever member to which both the hand operated member and the brake lever are connected, a gong, and means for sounding said gong operated by said lever member, all coacting for the purpose specified.

. In a vehicle signal device, the combination with a brake lever, of a signal device having stop and direction indicia, operating connections for said signal device to said brake lever whereby on each actuation of the brake lever, the stop indicia is displayed, a hand operated member, operating connections for said hand operated member to said signal device whereby said hand operated member maybe operated to display all of its indicia when said brake lever is in its normal position and to display the direction indicia when said brake lever is in its actuated position, and a gong operatively associated with said operating connections whereby the gong is'sounded when the stop indicia is displayed.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM W. HUELSTER. [L. s]

Witnesses:

GRACE B. THOMPSON, WESLEY MARSTON. 

